The General Consulate of Spain in Melbourne has officially put in place new rules for people who want to apply for a Non-Working Residence Visa. These rules will be in effect from 2025 onwards. This change speeds up the whole visa process while also making it more strict. All applicants, including those with dependents, will need to make in-person appointments, provide accurate paperwork, and follow clear deadlines.
This long-term visa lets foreigners live in Spain without working or doing any professional work, as long as they can show they have enough money to cover their stay. This visa is for retirees, digital nomads with passive income, and people who want to live a peaceful life in Spain’s sunny cities and farmland. Qualified family members can also join under the same conditions.
Benefits of Non-Working Residence Visa:
- Legal Residency: Legal residency means that you can live in the country without a work permit.
- Family sponsorship: Dependents like a partner, children, or parents can often be added.
- Access to Health Care: Being able to use area health care services or insurance plans.
- Chances for Education: Kids can go to schools and colleges in the country.
- Property Ownership: People who live in many countries can buy property or trade in it.
- Banking and Financial Access: You can easily handle your money and open local bank accounts.
- Travel: You can enter and leave the country without getting a tourist visa each time.
- Long-Term Stability: Gives security to retirees, families, and investors who want to set up a stable home.
- Way to Get Permanent Residency or Citizenship: Long-term living may help you get PR or citizenship in some countries.
- Lifestyle Benefits: You can enjoy the culture, safety, and facilities of the country without having to worry about finding work.
What’s New in the Application Process?
The new process is made up of three important steps:
1# Appointment Request by Email Only
No walk-ins. Requests for visa appointments must now be sent via email to cog.melbourne.visappt@maec.es, along with the applicant’s full name, country, and the type of visa they need. It is important to note that meetings are given on a first-come, first-served basis, and applicants should allow two months’ notice for Schengen visas and three months’ notice for national visas, such as the Non-Working Residence Visa.
2# In-Person Application Submission
Applicants must go to the Spanish Consulate in person at Level 7, 564 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004 with all the necessary papers once they have been given an appointment.
- Schengen Visa Appointments: Tuesdays and Thursdays
- National Visa Appointments (including Non-Working): Fridays
- Visa Submission Window: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- The only ways to pay for the visa fee are with cash or a money order.
3# Document Collection
Also, you have to pick up your passports and other papers in person. No mail coming back. Collection windows are the same days as meetings, so you don’t need to make separate ones.
Check Also: UK Health and Care Visa Changes Implemented
What is the Non-Working Residence Visa?
The Non-Working Residence Visa lets a person officially stay in Spain without being able to work. To be eligible, applicants must show that they can support themselves financially. Specifically, they must have income or assets worth at least 400% of Spain’s Public Multiple Effects Income Indicator (IPREM) for the main candidate and 100% of IPREM for each family member who comes with them. You have to have health insurance and a security check.
Who Can Apply Alongside You?
Family people who are eligible are:
- Spouse or registered/unregistered partner
- Dependent children
- Dependent parents
They each have to send in a full application package like the main applicant, but with proof of the family connection and financial need.
Essential Documentation Checklist:
Applicants must get ready for:
- Completed National Visa Form and EX-01 Form
- Valid passport from within the last 10 years that is good for at least one year
- A new picture the size of a passport
- Proof of having enough money
- Full health insurance plan for Spanish people
- Certificate of no criminal record for the last 5 years (translated and legalized)
- a medical document saying that the person does not have any contagious diseases
- Proof that you live in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, or Tasmania.
- Fill out Form 790 Code 052 to pay the fees for a work pass
- Visa fees are $470 plus €18, which is about $488. The prices are different for Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, and Bangladesh.
Processing Timeline and Outcome:
- The normal time for handling is three months, but this can be extended for interviews or extra paperwork.
- Applicants get a receipt with a tracking code that lets them check on the status of their entry online.
- Those who get approved for a visa have 90 days to enter Spain and apply for their Foreigner Identity Card.
If the request is turned down, the Consulate will send a written reason. You have one month (administrative) or two months (court) to file an appeal.
A Strategic Move for Spain:
These simpler rules are part of a larger effort to find a balance between controlling immigration and welcoming residents who need help. Countries like Spain are becoming more popular with people who want to change their lifestyle. The Non-Working Residence Visa is becoming more popular around the world, especially among retirees, remote workers with passive income, and global citizens looking for a better quality of life. Spain has a mild temperature, world-class healthcare, and a lot of different cultures.
As of now, applications can only be submitted by appointment; no phone calls or emails will be answered. People who want to apply are encouraged to do so early and make sure their paperwork is perfect. Spain might not be able to find you a job, but it can offer you a way of life.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the Non-Working (Non-Lucrative) Residence Visa?
It’s a visa that lets people from outside the EU live in Spain without working or doing anything professionally. With this visa, you can’t work from home or online.
What are the financial requirements under the new rules?
You need to prove that you have enough money to live in Spain. For 2025, this means showing that you make €2,400 a month, or €28,800 a year, using the new figure of 400 times the IPREM. More proof of where the money came from and its background is also needed.
How long must I physically reside in Spain to renew the visa?
People with a visa must have lived in Spain for at least 183 days in the previous year in order to be able to extend it.
